A talkSPORT pundit is open to the idea of Middlesbrough selling one of their first-team stars this summer.
Middlesbrough are on course to have a markedly different squad to the one they ended the 2023/24 Championship campaign with.
Michael Carrick penned a new three-year deal at the Riverside earlier this month, keeping him at the club until 2027.
On the field meanwhile, Steve Gibson has backed his manager with several new signings as he aims to take the club back to the Premier League.
After assisting eight in 19 league outings while on loan from Leeds United last season, Luke Ayling has joined Boro on a permanent basis.
Columbus Crew midfielder Aidan Morris is also set to link up with the Teessiders in the coming months, joining Boro as their third signing of the summer following the addition of Delano Burgzorg.
It is not just incomings that are expected in the North East this summer, though, with Dan Barlaser and Anfernee Dijksteel potentially set to leave the club in the current window.
Journalist would be ‘happy to see’ Riley McGree leave Middlesbrough
Now, talkSPORT journalist Phil Spencer has suggested he would be happy to see Riley McGree depart Teesside in 2024.
Spencer, speaking to Football League World, stated he would be ‘happy to see’ the midfielder moved on this summer, saying:
“There are a number of Middlesbrough players who are attracting big interest this summer, but the one player that I’d be most happy to see move on would be Riley McGree.”
McGree was limited to just 22 Championship outings last term due to injury issues and international commitments.
Spencer added: “As much as McGree is a fantastic player – when he’s fit and in form he is probably Middlesbrough’s best attacking outlet – last season he didn’t play a huge amount of football due to injury and being away with Australia at the Asian Cup, so we have shown that we can get by without him, even if last season wasn’t the best campaign all-in-all.”
Why Middlesbrough should sell Riley McGree
McGree has been an important player for Middlesbrough since his transfer from the MLS in 2022.
However, as Spencer suggests, it may be time for the 25-year-old to depart the club in the current window.
There are a few reasons for this, including the fact he only has 12 months left on his current contract and will be a free agent next year.
Secondly, while McGree’s versatility has been useful to Carrick in the past, Boro now have a plethora of options who can replace the midfielder in different areas of the pitch.
In midfield, Finn Azaz, Jonny Howson, Hayden Hackney, incoming signing Aidan Morris and academy product Law McCabe are all more than capable of filling in for the Australian.
McGree’s other preferred position is left-wing. On this front, Alex Gilbert, Sam Silvera and new signing Delano Burgzorg are expected to be the main options in 2024/25.
In turn, it makes sense for Middlesbrough to cash in on McGree this summer, rather than losing him for nothing in 12 month’s time.